Statement by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on the election of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission and Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and the Neighbourhood Policy, made the following statement today:

“We warmly welcome the endorsement yesterday of the Iurie Leancă government and of its programme by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. This puts an end to a protracted political crisis that has endangered the stability of Moldova's state institutions. We invite the authorities and the citizens of the Republic of Moldova to consider the need for constitutional reform to strengthen systemic checks and balances, and to prevent the emergence of similar crises in the future.

We encourage Prime Minister Leancă, his government and all political parties of the Republic of Moldova to work in a spirit of inclusiveness, with a view to de-escalating political tensions and contributing to the further consolidation of democracy and the success of Moldova's European agenda in the interest of every citizen. In this context, we call on the state authorities, the political class and civil society to pay close attention to the importance of ensuring the impartial, rule-based, transparent and effective functioning of all institutions, including law- enforcement bodies and regulatory agencies; and the defence of diversity, pluralism and quality in the media landscape.

The European Union stands ready to continue supporting Moldova's efforts to implement structural reforms, keeping in mind their social dimension and the need to deliver tangible benefits to the population."